The infant, yet to be named, is one of 88 white-cheeked gibbons living in 27 North American zoos, according to Jay Petersen, curator of primates and carnivores at the zoo.

White-cheeked gibbons are critically endangered in Vietnam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and presumed extinct in their native China where they haven’t been seen since the 1980s, Petersen said.

The species’ population is said to have declined by up to 80 percent in the last 45 years, primarily because of hunting and clearing of forests, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The infant will remain in close contact with Indah, firmly gripped to her fur, for the next few months until he gets old enough to begin exploring the zoo’s habitat on his own, Petersen said.

“This youngster has a pretty strong, good grip,” he said.” You’ll see the mother moving through the trees and the infant will hold on to the fur the whole time.”

The newborn will keep his blonde fur until he’s six months old, where it will begin to darken into a dusky color. By the time he’s a year old, the gibbon will sport a black coat like his father and brothers, which he will retain for life.

Visitors can see the baby in the Asia exhibit each day between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. As he grows older, the visiting hours will be extended to 3 p.m.

“The zoo’s real excited,” Petersen said. “We’re all happy to have another infant on board.”

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